In the state of Nevada, an eligible Nevada resident with a valid Nevada-issued ID can visit any firearms dealership and buy a gun without being required to have a gun permit or license. Upon visiting the dealership, you will be asked to provide proof of identity and complete a form with personal information to be used in a background check. The dealer will then perform the background check as part of the Brady Point of Sale (POS) program to determine if you are eligible by law to buy a gun. After passing the background check, you can then buy your gun; however, depending on where you reside in Nevada, you may be subject to a 24-hour waiting period until you can claim the gun from the dealership. Continue reading to learn about the materials and fees you will need to complete your gun purchase in the state of Nevada.

Steps

1

Determine if you are eligible to buy a gun. Some individuals are prohibited from purchasing a gun.

You will not be allowed clearance to buy a gun if you are a convicted felon, a fugitive from the justice system, an illegal alien, addicted to drugs or alcohol, mentally ill, dishonorably discharged from the military, or convicted of domestic violence or any other type of harassment.

You must be at least 18 years of age to buy a rifle or shotgun and 21 to buy a handgun from a federal firearms dealer.

2

Gather the materials and fees needed to buy a gun.

The gun dealer will require you to provide a form of government-issued photograph identification; such as your Nevada drivers license or identification card from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Bring 25 dollars (18 euros) to cover the POS background check. The fee is non-refundable, even if you do not pass the background check.

3

Visit any Nevada gun dealership to buy a gun.

Look in your city's local phone directory or perform an online search to locate the names and addresses of Nevada gun dealerships you can visit.

Bring your identification and fees with you to the gun dealership.

4

Complete the background check form. After deciding on the type of gun you want to buy, the dealer will provide you with a form to complete for the background check.

Enter the information required on the form; including your full name, type of gun you plan on buying, maiden or former names, gender, date of birth, and state of residence.

5

Wait for the results of your background check. After receiving your completed form, the gun dealer will call the POS program to conduct the background check. You can buy a gun after passing the background check.

The background check can only be conducted daily between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., excluding legal holidays. If you visit a gun dealership outside of these hours, you may have to revisit the gun dealership at another time to complete the background check.

In some cases, the POS representative performing the background check may ask the dealer for additional information about yourself; such as your race, height, weight, Social Security Number, or other characteristics.

6

Receive your gun. Most counties in Nevada allow you to buy your gun and take it home after passing the background check; however, if you reside in Clark County (excluding Boulder City), you will be required to wait 24 hours to receive your gun.

Community Q&A

Call or go to the courts, the public defender, or the police department, and ask to have your record checked. You can also check with the Department of Public Safety in the state you were convicted in.

The requirements are the same as buying a gun elsewhere. If you buy from a private seller, you do not need a background check. If you buy from a gun retailer, the retailer is required to perform a background check, same as if you were in their retail location.

Yes. You need to have a Nevada ID to purchase a firearm in Nevada from a Federal Firearms Dealer. This is to make sure you are a resident in Nevada and not buying a firearm for use in another state that it might be banned in.

What if I had a domestic violence charge 20 years ago? I never had anything come back on background checks I've had in the past 10 years.

wikiHow Contributor

Community Answer

Anyone who applies for a firearm knowing they are restricted but passes the background check is guilty of a crime. The State may never know, but if you are caught with the gun, or at any time there is a search for information on the SN#, your name will be attached to the gun. They can and will prosecute you for lying on the form, and these are federal charges. Always check with the State and get it in writing to protect yourself. The background check system is getting better all the time, but it's not perfect. Also, if the State knows you can't own a gun and you tried to get one, they request for the background paperwork right away and it is sent to the DA.